It was a type of April Idiot’s jokes that PR departments like to make.
Bear in mind when a UK grocery store chain introduced a double-decker purchasing cart? Or when Burger King ‘launched’ a Chocolate Whopper? In 2007, Google fooled the world with ‘Google Paper,’ a service that might print your emails and mail them to you.
They’re not all the time humorous. We reported on VW’s awkward joke about renaming itself Voltswagen in 2021. The stunt landed badly within the wake of the corporate’s huge Dieselgate scandal and was shortly pulled.
BMW
Generally, although, a joke turns into one thing actual. Final April, BMW posted on social media a few station wagon with a large rear wing constructed for racing. It appeared kind of ridiculous. However the mock-ups bought consideration. Followers began drooling.
The outcome? Virtually a 12 months later, BMW has truly constructed it. The corporate has introduced that the wild M3 Touring 24H race automobile, full with an enormous wing, is heading to the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
The M3 Touring 24H is already operating in preliminary races. It’s entered for mid-Could’s 24-hour endurance occasion on the Nürburgring, the notorious 20-km (13-mile) circuit via forested hills in western Germany with greater than 150 corners.
BMW
BMW has created a load-hauling wagon with near 600 bhp from a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six. Energy goes to the rear wheels. The automobile options main chassis and suspension upgrades, together with new anti-roll bars, bigger brakes, and a tuned differential. It is going to be quick. It would stand out. It would draw a crowd.
However the automobile will compete in a particular editions class somewhat than go for outright victory. BMW is coming into three severe M4 GT3 Evos to struggle for the general win. BMW Motorsport doesn’t need a wagon getting in the best way nonetheless standard it’s.
In spite of everything, racing wagons are nothing new. One of the best-known instance is Volvo’s 850 property from the British Touring Automotive Championship within the Nineteen Nineties. It helped shake off the model’s ‘boxy and boring’ picture. It additionally led to the road-going 850 T5-R in 1995, developed partially with Porsche. That brilliant yellow wagon, with its 240-hp inline-five, turned a cult favourite. Volvo has not been the identical since. So it is no shock BMW Motorsport has been excited about a scorching rod wagon for the reason that launch of the M3 Touring in 2022.
BMW
When in April 1, 2025, BMW Motorsport posted pictures of a supposed ‘in-development M3 Touring GT race automobile’ it might have been testing the waters. No matter, the response was big. The put up reached a couple of million customers and generated over 1.6 million views. Engagement far exceeded regular BMW social media ranges.
BMW hasn’t shared efficiency knowledge or confirmed additional racing plans for the M3 Touring 24H. Extra importantly, there isn’t a phrase on whether or not it’s going to promote variations to privateer groups, because it does with the M4 GT3, at round US$670,000.
For now, the quickest road-going 3 Collection can nonetheless haul a wardrobe at severe pace. The M3 Competitors Touring with xDrive goes from 0–60 mph (96.5 km/h) in about 3.5 seconds, with a high pace close to 174 mph (280 km/h).
Supply: BMW
